Valentin,
I'm interested to see your companion piece for this poem. How will you contrast the heaviness depicted in this poem?
Poetry
Ferry, David. "Seen Through a Window." Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Foundation. 2014. Web. 9 Nov. 2014.
"Seen Through a Window"
David Ferry
A man and a woman are sitting at a table.
It is supper time. The air is green. The walls
Are white in the green air, as rocks under water
Retain their own true color, though washed in green.
I do not know either the man or the woman,
Nor do I know whatever they know of each other.
Though washed in my eye they keep their own true color.
The man is all his own hunched strength, the body’s
Self and strength, that bears, like weariness,
Itself upon itself, as a stone’s weight
Bears heavily on itself to be itself.
Heavy the strength that bears the body down.
And the way he feeds is like a dreamless sleep.
The dreaming of a stone is how he feeds.
The woman’s arms are plump, mottled a little
The flesh, like standing milk, and on one arm
A blue bruise, got in some household labor or other,
Flowering in the white. Her staring eye,
Like some bird’s cry called from some deepest wood,
Says nothing of what it is but what it is.
Such silence is the bird’s cry of the stone. Make sure to cut and paste the entire poem and not must a stanza from the poem.
In David Ferry's poem, the narrator observes a couple through a window and notices how quiet they are. Neither of them says a word because they are both exhausted. The husband is especially affected by his weariness and eats like in a "dreamless sleep." The poem looks at how two people who could otherwise be happy and energetic can be brought down by fatigue so much that they do not even acknowledge each others' presence. This poem uses many words describing stones to demonstrate how weariness makes people act like "The dreaming of a stone."
Herbert, George. "The Pulley." Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Foundation. 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"The Pulley"
George Herbert
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
Contract into a span.”
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.
“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should losers be.
“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.” Again, I need to see the beginning, middle, and end of the poem. Everything is purposeful in a poem.
In "The Pulley" by George Herbert, God is giving his vast array of treasures to man, and notices at the bottom of his hoard that he can still give them rest. He thinks about why he should give them rest and decides that if they may rest then they will ignore him and "rest in Nature, not the God of Nature." Weariness is the one thing that keeps humanity grounded and so God gives his creations restlessness so that they will not think themselves his betters, and will instead continue to worship him. The heaviness of weariness in this case is keeping people humble. There is "wisdom, honour, pleasure" in God's treasure trove, but among these many gifts rest is lacking, for weariness is a gift beyond the others. Without weariness, the other gifts would be worthless because the people would forget who gave them these presents.Pull words and images from the poem and include in your analysis.
Humbling Weariness vs. Exhausting Weariness
"The Pulley" by George Herbert and "Seen Through a Window" by David Ferry both offer insights about weariness, but with differing interpretations. In "Seen Through a Window," weariness is portrayed as a burden that makes a person live a robotic life. In Ferry's poem, the narrator examines how inhuman and mechanical a fatigued person can be, while in Herbert's poem, the opposite is found to be true. In "The Pulley" God gives humanity many gifts, and among those gifts he gives humans rest, but letting them have this treasure would put them in a position where they no longer feel inferior to God and would instead of worshiping him, they would worship their gifts. And so God gives humanity restlessness to make them weary, and this gives them a reason to continue asking him for guidance. Instead of degrading a person to subhuman like in "Seen Through a Window," Herbert sees weariness as the one thing that keeps a person human. In the poem by David Ferry the weary man is related to a stone, which represents a form of nature and in Herbert's poem nature is regarded as something that humans should not spend too much time with. The couple from "Seen Through a Window" have many things going for them; they have a peaceful home and food to eat, and yet with weariness the old man cannot be content. "The Pulley" looks at this with a different perspective and decides that "Let him be rich and weary" for only then will the man continue to pray and worship God. Really observe the two poems in their entirety. Do you see common words or images? If so, how are they used differently?
Films
Lincoln. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones. Touchstone, 2012. DVD.
In the movie about the president who held the nation together, opposing sides relentlessly struggle against different beliefs. Despite this constant argument, Abraham Lincoln is able to keep the Senate and House of Representatives under control and ends up accomplishing his goals. By the end of the movie he experiences weariness, but it is the weariness of accomplishment, the feeling that he can now rest at peace. The president carried the nation on his shoulders which was just like lugging around a great boulder but now he can set the rock back down. Lincoln could not sleep at night and he could have given up from the weariness but instead he continued with sincerity. When Lincoln speaks, his voice often carries in a serious manner that demands attention from listeners. Develop your film analysis.
Gravity. Dir. Alfonso Cuarón. Perf. Sandra Bullock, George Clooney. Heyday Films, 2013. DVD.
Gravity is a movie that tells the story about not giving up. An astronaut named Ryan Stone gets stuck in space and the film centers around her trying to get back to Earth. The journey seems hopeless so she gives up and shuts down all of her equipment, growing tired of living. Ryan then hallucinates and sees a deceased friend which revitalizes her spirit. During the time when the astronaut gives up, the movie depicts weariness as a bleak and hopeless situation. Ryan Stone curls up in a ball, resembling a stone, and speaks weakly. She hardly moves and while her friend is grinning and making the best of the situation, her weariness turns her face into an expressionless mask. Ryan Stone is a stone statue. Really focus on Ryan Stone's weariness. Develop. Look at this scene, take notes, and then describe to me her face, her body language, etc. Why give her the name stone? Significant?
The Weariness of Accomplishment vs. the Weariness of Giving Up
In both Gravity and Lincoln, the main characters experience fatigue and weariness. The causes and circumstances of these shared feelings differ, however, as Lincoln feels the weariness of triumph while Ryan Stone must endure the weariness of losing. In Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln strives to keep the United States together and to further his ideals. By the end of the film he has accomplished what he has set out to do and feels tired and weary. This weariness that the president feels is not negative, however, and is instead the feeling of a burden being lifted from his shoulders and the realization that he can now relax, knowing that he has finished. In Gravity however, the main character only feels weariness when she gives up, and the weariness is not due to accomplishment but instead due to what needs to be accomplished. Knowing that returning to Earth will be a struggle, Ryan Stone feels weary by the mere thought of what she has yet to accomplish, and so she gives in and decides to sleep an endless slumber, too tired to continue. In Gravity Ryan Stone is floating out in space, but gravity will ultimately bring her down. Abraham Lincoln carries the nation on his shoulders but ultimately he will set it back down. Gravity may always make things fall but in Lincoln, it is a burden falling off of his shoulders. Another way the two movies are similar is they both look at the word "gravity" in a less obvious way. Ryan Stone is stuck in a satellite which is kept in orbit by gravity, but the situation holds gravity in another perspective. Gravity can also mean solemnity, and the astronaut is in a grave situation where she is fighting for her life. Lincoln also looks into a serious situation and Abraham Lincoln is always conducting himself with gravity, rarely smiling. Be playful. How does gravity itself lead to human weariness? Could the word also describe grave/serious situations? If so, then why could the Lincoln movie also be called "gravity"? Be inventive in combining these two movies that have so much in common, although one takes place in the future and one takes place in the past.
This piece of art by Sir John Everett Millais depicts a woman in a brightly lit room stretching from weariness. She appears to have been working on something at the table. Mariana looks up from the table and looks at a stained glass representation of holy figures. Her project is bathed in light to signify it as important, and she looks reluctant to leave it. Mariana is dressed is royal blue clothing with gold accents, implying that she is of wealthy descent. Despite the otherwise cleanliness of the room, bright leaves are scattered across the floor and on the table in a way that represents harmony with nature. In the background her bed looms in the shadows, representing the darkness of weariness.
Fraser, James. The End of the Trail. 1918. Bronze. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Art Institute Chicago. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
The End of the Trail
James Earle Fraser
The End of the Trail
This bronze sculpture by James Fraser represents the Native American struggle caused by westward expansion. The Native American is holding a spear, which shows that he has put up a fight, but the spear now droops and is no longer a threat. The warrior has grown weary of the fight and his horse has also grown weary of carrying him. Both of them reach "the end of the trail" and weariness has defeated them. Beneath the horse the appears to be a sharp stone that would hurt he animal should it succumb to its weariness. Another way that this sculpture demonstrates weariness is the material used to create it. Although bronze is a rather valuable metal, the bronze used in this sculpture is dull and looks like stone. The Native American looks ready to fall of of his steed and is barely hanging on. Develop! I need to see more, Valentin.
Weariness of Prosperity vs. the Weariness of Languish
Mariana and The End of the Trail both represent weariness through art, but in very different ways. They both use symbolism, and this is used to set them apart. The Native American shown in the sculpture is bent forward just like his horse, looking nowhere but the ground where he expects to soon be buried under. The painting, however, shows Mariana leaning back and surveying her work and looking at her window. Both of them are weary, but the Native American is weary from the decimation of his population. The young lady on the other hand is fatigued due to prosperity, and is thriving with nature. The woman has spent her time doing something she loves, and so Mariana grows weary from all of her riches. A person can grow tired from being downtrodden and defeated, and yet also grow weary of having too much.
Weariness
Valentin,I'm interested to see your companion piece for this poem. How will you contrast the heaviness depicted in this poem?
Poetry
Ferry, David. "Seen Through a Window." Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Foundation. 2014. Web. 9 Nov. 2014.
"Seen Through a Window"
David Ferry
A man and a woman are sitting at a table.
It is supper time. The air is green. The walls
Are white in the green air, as rocks under water
Retain their own true color, though washed in green.
I do not know either the man or the woman,
Nor do I know whatever they know of each other.
Though washed in my eye they keep their own true color.
The man is all his own hunched strength, the body’s
Self and strength, that bears, like weariness,
Itself upon itself, as a stone’s weight
Bears heavily on itself to be itself.
Heavy the strength that bears the body down.
And the way he feeds is like a dreamless sleep.
The dreaming of a stone is how he feeds.
The woman’s arms are plump, mottled a little
The flesh, like standing milk, and on one arm
A blue bruise, got in some household labor or other,
Flowering in the white. Her staring eye,
Like some bird’s cry called from some deepest wood,
Says nothing of what it is but what it is.
Such silence is the bird’s cry of the stone.
Make sure to cut and paste the entire poem and not must a stanza from the poem.
In David Ferry's poem, the narrator observes a couple through a window and notices how quiet they are. Neither of them says a word because they are both exhausted. The husband is especially affected by his weariness and eats like in a "dreamless sleep." The poem looks at how two people who could otherwise be happy and energetic can be brought down by fatigue so much that they do not even acknowledge each others' presence. This poem uses many words describing stones to demonstrate how weariness makes people act like "The dreaming of a stone."
Herbert, George. "The Pulley." Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Foundation. 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"The Pulley"
George Herbert
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
Contract into a span.”
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.
“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should losers be.
“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.”
Again, I need to see the beginning, middle, and end of the poem. Everything is purposeful in a poem.
In "The Pulley" by George Herbert, God is giving his vast array of treasures to man, and notices at the bottom of his hoard that he can still give them rest. He thinks about why he should give them rest and decides that if they may rest then they will ignore him and "rest in Nature, not the God of Nature." Weariness is the one thing that keeps humanity grounded and so God gives his creations restlessness so that they will not think themselves his betters, and will instead continue to worship him. The heaviness of weariness in this case is keeping people humble. There is "wisdom, honour, pleasure" in God's treasure trove, but among these many gifts rest is lacking, for weariness is a gift beyond the others. Without weariness, the other gifts would be worthless because the people would forget who gave them these presents.Pull words and images from the poem and include in your analysis.
Humbling Weariness vs. Exhausting Weariness
"The Pulley" by George Herbert and "Seen Through a Window" by David Ferry both offer insights about weariness, but with differing interpretations. In "Seen Through a Window," weariness is portrayed as a burden that makes a person live a robotic life. In Ferry's poem, the narrator examines how inhuman and mechanical a fatigued person can be, while in Herbert's poem, the opposite is found to be true. In "The Pulley" God gives humanity many gifts, and among those gifts he gives humans rest, but letting them have this treasure would put them in a position where they no longer feel inferior to God and would instead of worshiping him, they would worship their gifts. And so God gives humanity restlessness to make them weary, and this gives them a reason to continue asking him for guidance. Instead of degrading a person to subhuman like in "Seen Through a Window," Herbert sees weariness as the one thing that keeps a person human. In the poem by David Ferry the weary man is related to a stone, which represents a form of nature and in Herbert's poem nature is regarded as something that humans should not spend too much time with. The couple from "Seen Through a Window" have many things going for them; they have a peaceful home and food to eat, and yet with weariness the old man cannot be content. "The Pulley" looks at this with a different perspective and decides that "Let him be rich and weary" for only then will the man continue to pray and worship God.Really observe the two poems in their entirety. Do you see common words or images? If so, how are they used differently?
Films
Lincoln. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones. Touchstone, 2012. DVD.
Link to clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJVuqYkI2jQ
In the movie about the president who held the nation together, opposing sides relentlessly struggle against different beliefs. Despite this constant argument, Abraham Lincoln is able to keep the Senate and House of Representatives under control and ends up accomplishing his goals. By the end of the movie he experiences weariness, but it is the weariness of accomplishment, the feeling that he can now rest at peace. The president carried the nation on his shoulders which was just like lugging around a great boulder but now he can set the rock back down. Lincoln could not sleep at night and he could have given up from the weariness but instead he continued with sincerity. When Lincoln speaks, his voice often carries in a serious manner that demands attention from listeners.
Develop your film analysis.
Gravity. Dir. Alfonso Cuarón. Perf. Sandra Bullock, George Clooney. Heyday Films, 2013. DVD.
Link to clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EThczHxvjKo
Gravity is a movie that tells the story about not giving up. An astronaut named Ryan Stone gets stuck in space and the film centers around her trying to get back to Earth. The journey seems hopeless so she gives up and shuts down all of her equipment, growing tired of living. Ryan then hallucinates and sees a deceased friend which revitalizes her spirit. During the time when the astronaut gives up, the movie depicts weariness as a bleak and hopeless situation. Ryan Stone curls up in a ball, resembling a stone, and speaks weakly. She hardly moves and while her friend is grinning and making the best of the situation, her weariness turns her face into an expressionless mask. Ryan Stone is a stone statue.
Really focus on Ryan Stone's weariness. Develop. Look at this scene, take notes, and then describe to me her face, her body language, etc. Why give her the name stone? Significant?
The Weariness of Accomplishment vs. the Weariness of Giving Up
In both Gravity and Lincoln, the main characters experience fatigue and weariness. The causes and circumstances of these shared feelings differ, however, as Lincoln feels the weariness of triumph while Ryan Stone must endure the weariness of losing. In Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln strives to keep the United States together and to further his ideals. By the end of the film he has accomplished what he has set out to do and feels tired and weary. This weariness that the president feels is not negative, however, and is instead the feeling of a burden being lifted from his shoulders and the realization that he can now relax, knowing that he has finished. In Gravity however, the main character only feels weariness when she gives up, and the weariness is not due to accomplishment but instead due to what needs to be accomplished. Knowing that returning to Earth will be a struggle, Ryan Stone feels weary by the mere thought of what she has yet to accomplish, and so she gives in and decides to sleep an endless slumber, too tired to continue. In Gravity Ryan Stone is floating out in space, but gravity will ultimately bring her down. Abraham Lincoln carries the nation on his shoulders but ultimately he will set it back down. Gravity may always make things fall but in Lincoln, it is a burden falling off of his shoulders. Another way the two movies are similar is they both look at the word "gravity" in a less obvious way. Ryan Stone is stuck in a satellite which is kept in orbit by gravity, but the situation holds gravity in another perspective. Gravity can also mean solemnity, and the astronaut is in a grave situation where she is fighting for her life. Lincoln also looks into a serious situation and Abraham Lincoln is always conducting himself with gravity, rarely smiling.Be playful. How does gravity itself lead to human weariness? Could the word also describe grave/serious situations? If so, then why could the Lincoln movie also be called "gravity"? Be inventive in combining these two movies that have so much in common, although one takes place in the future and one takes place in the past.
Artwork
Millais, John. Mariana. 1851. Oil paint on mahogany. Tate Britain, London. Tate. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Mariana
Sir John Everett Millais
This piece of art by Sir John Everett Millais depicts a woman in a brightly lit room stretching from weariness. She appears to have been working on something at the table. Mariana looks up from the table and looks at a stained glass representation of holy figures. Her project is bathed in light to signify it as important, and she looks reluctant to leave it. Mariana is dressed is royal blue clothing with gold accents, implying that she is of wealthy descent. Despite the otherwise cleanliness of the room, bright leaves are scattered across the floor and on the table in a way that represents harmony with nature. In the background her bed looms in the shadows, representing the darkness of weariness.
Fraser, James. The End of the Trail. 1918. Bronze. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Art Institute Chicago. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
The End of the Trail
James Earle Fraser
This bronze sculpture by James Fraser represents the Native American struggle caused by westward expansion. The Native American is holding a spear, which shows that he has put up a fight, but the spear now droops and is no longer a threat. The warrior has grown weary of the fight and his horse has also grown weary of carrying him. Both of them reach "the end of the trail" and weariness has defeated them. Beneath the horse the appears to be a sharp stone that would hurt he animal should it succumb to its weariness. Another way that this sculpture demonstrates weariness is the material used to create it. Although bronze is a rather valuable metal, the bronze used in this sculpture is dull and looks like stone. The Native American looks ready to fall of of his steed and is barely hanging on.
Develop! I need to see more, Valentin.
Weariness of Prosperity vs. the Weariness of Languish
Mariana and The End of the Trail both represent weariness through art, but in very different ways. They both use symbolism, and this is used to set them apart. The Native American shown in the sculpture is bent forward just like his horse, looking nowhere but the ground where he expects to soon be buried under. The painting, however, shows Mariana leaning back and surveying her work and looking at her window. Both of them are weary, but the Native American is weary from the decimation of his population. The young lady on the other hand is fatigued due to prosperity, and is thriving with nature. The woman has spent her time doing something she loves, and so Mariana grows weary from all of her riches. A person can grow tired from being downtrodden and defeated, and yet also grow weary of having too much.